What Happens When a West Coast Kid Goes to an East Coast School

People warned me about coming here.

Get Spoon University delivered to you

You tryna be tricky? That email doesn't look right.

By adding your email you agree to get updates about Spoon University Healthier

I spent most of my life in a suburb of Seattle, Washington, so people were appalled when they heard that I was even considering going all the way to the East Coast for college. “You’re too nice,” they would tell me, “and they’ll eat you alive.”

Despite the culture shock, I’ve made it to my second semester and I am ready to pass on some of the wisdom I have gained from my time. Here’s what you have to prepare for:

1. Finally experiencing seasons

Photo courtesy of @StanleyZimny on flickr.com

If the West Coast has seasons, the East Coast has SEASONS. Hot, humid summers, crisp falls with beautiful foliage, and inhumanly cold winters (even without snow).

2. People trying to convert you to Dunkin’

Photo by Elena Bailoni

It won’t work. Especially coming from Seattle, the divide is real. I was used to seeing at least one Starbucks per block, but here all I can find is Dunkin’. While all my East Coast friends swear by Dunkin‘ (and I do admit that their donuts are a definite plus), Starbs will always have my heart.

3. Discovering that prep school and PG years are not just on the Upper East Side

Photo courtesy of belmodo.be

Attending private school is pretty rare where I’m from, let alone prep or boarding school. For those of you as confused as I was, PG stands for post-graduate (read: taking a fifth year of high school to get grades up or for athletes to improve before going to college) Unheard of. On the East Coast, however, it feels like everyone and their mother went to prep school. Talk to the hockey team about PG years.

4. Being totally awed by all the history

Photo courtesy of @DavidPirmann on flickr.com

Everything on the East Coast is so old. Some of the buildings were here before America gained its independence – how crazy is that? Also, the brick is ~beautiful~.

10. Tearing up because you can’t ski and beach in the same day

Photo courtesy of @wealthbychocolate on flickr.com

The West Coast terrain is so versatile that you can drive to the mountains and ski in the morning, and then spend the afternoon relaxing on the beach. The Claremont Colleges in California even have a Ski-Beach Day organized by the school.

11. Swearing never to take good Mexican food for granted again

Photo by Alex Vu

All along the West Coast – especially in California – people know and love their Mexican food and have strong opinions on the best taco truck. On the East Coast? Not so much. Expect Chipotle to be recommended.

While the two coasts definitely have their differences, they are both great places to be. Exploring a new environment is exciting and opens up many new possibilities. If you’re thinking about going somewhere far from home for college, take my advice and go for it – you’ll learn a lot along the way.